"Outreach to Islam." A Good Idea, If It Works.
Outreach to Islam
The Obamas' first tour of Europe as America's first couple has concluded, and several things are clear:
It's OK to hug the Queen, and it's OK to tell the world that the United States is not at war with Islam, and perhaps those messages could only have come with the history-making husband and wife who represented us this time, to such welcome and acclaim.
If travel is broadening, this travel broadened the American message to the rest of the world.
"America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaida," President Obama said to Turkey's Grand Assembly.
He also spoke of the importance of our partnering with the Muslim world and how our connections have political and personal implications.
"We will listen carefully, we will bridge misunderstanding, and we will seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. And we will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over centuries to shape the world, including in my own country," the President said.
"The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority county. I know, because I am one of them."
This sentiment will not play with the home crowd hung up on Mr. Obama's middle name of "Hussein," but it was perhaps the strongest signal yet that the United States has broken from the arrogant, pre-emptive, unilateral approach of the last eight years that so isolated us from the rest of the world.
The President also earned points for speaking another truth that won't earn him affection from the fringe anywhere, but bears repeating on these shores because we need to hear it, too:
"One of the great strengths of the United States," Mr. Obama said, "is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."
Somebody say amen.
Editor's comment: POTUS Barack Obama is right for trying to reach out to the Muslim world, and to assure them our problem is NOT with Islam, but with the EXTREMISTS who do us HARM.
I'm all for him doing so, IF it will bring better understand and peace between us and them, for "BLESSED are the PeaceMakers, for they shall be called the children of God" -- Mathew 5:9.
As for what type of a nation we are, our Founding Fathers, by their written words, make us understand that we are a nation which believes in a Divine Creator -- a sort of Nature's God -- a Divine Providence kind of protector.
So does that make us a Christian nation? I'll let you be the judge of that, though it is CLEAR where I stand!
One thought to keep in mind: why does our Constitution NOT require a (Christian) religious test for our leaders, if they supposed us a Christian nation?
The Obamas' first tour of Europe as America's first couple has concluded, and several things are clear:
It's OK to hug the Queen, and it's OK to tell the world that the United States is not at war with Islam, and perhaps those messages could only have come with the history-making husband and wife who represented us this time, to such welcome and acclaim.
If travel is broadening, this travel broadened the American message to the rest of the world.
"America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaida," President Obama said to Turkey's Grand Assembly.
He also spoke of the importance of our partnering with the Muslim world and how our connections have political and personal implications.
"We will listen carefully, we will bridge misunderstanding, and we will seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. And we will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over centuries to shape the world, including in my own country," the President said.
"The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority county. I know, because I am one of them."
This sentiment will not play with the home crowd hung up on Mr. Obama's middle name of "Hussein," but it was perhaps the strongest signal yet that the United States has broken from the arrogant, pre-emptive, unilateral approach of the last eight years that so isolated us from the rest of the world.
The President also earned points for speaking another truth that won't earn him affection from the fringe anywhere, but bears repeating on these shores because we need to hear it, too:
"One of the great strengths of the United States," Mr. Obama said, "is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."
Somebody say amen.
Editor's comment: POTUS Barack Obama is right for trying to reach out to the Muslim world, and to assure them our problem is NOT with Islam, but with the EXTREMISTS who do us HARM.
I'm all for him doing so, IF it will bring better understand and peace between us and them, for "BLESSED are the PeaceMakers, for they shall be called the children of God" -- Mathew 5:9.
As for what type of a nation we are, our Founding Fathers, by their written words, make us understand that we are a nation which believes in a Divine Creator -- a sort of Nature's God -- a Divine Providence kind of protector.
So does that make us a Christian nation? I'll let you be the judge of that, though it is CLEAR where I stand!
One thought to keep in mind: why does our Constitution NOT require a (Christian) religious test for our leaders, if they supposed us a Christian nation?
Labels: General information
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 10:10 AM
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